I am writing you to try and clear some things up about the so called “Gun Show Loophole” myth. First thing is that state and federal lawmakers should not look at making anymore gun control laws. There are over twenty thousand gun laws on the books already that cover most problems that would come up. The new laws such as the gun show loophole, one gun a month, bullet serialization and many more laws that are just “Feel Good Laws” in other words, they do not do anything to stop crime. The Brady Center and the Violence policy center or any other gun control group flat out just does not think anybody should own guns of any kind. These groups if they really wanted to stop crime would go after the prosecutors or the lawyers who get the criminals a plea bargain or a shorter sentence for a crime that they commit.

Let’s get back to what I started to write about the gun show loophole. First there is no such thing. Gun dealers still have to run a gun show within all the laws that they have to follow in there store. Then you say that what about private sales? Well I have been to a few gun shows in MN. And there were two private sellers in about six of the shows I have been to. They were not busy and I would guess that they would also ask for ID or a carry permit before the sale. Then you say not everybody would ask. True but here are some statistics. There was a study done at the University of Michigan. They examined every gun show and every homicide or suicide, organized by zip code, over a 11 year period (1994 to 2004) in both California and Texas. These states were chosen due to the population and the different gun laws. They also had a proportionate amount of gun shows.

In California the laws are very restrictive and even private sales have to go through background checks through a licensed dealer and the dealer has to keep records of the transaction. Texas has much less restrictive laws.

California already has the so called gun show loophole closed, yet the law had no impact on public safety. The comparison of these two states showed that the law in Ca. had no impact on safety and neither did the Texas law which is much less restrictive.

The FBI and the DOJ have been saying all along that Gun Shows are a danger to no one. Gun dealers have to obey the laws wherever they sell guns and they are held accountable if they do not.

If the state of MN thinks this “Gun Show Loophole” law will stop any crime they are sadly mistaken. The only thing new gun laws do for the most part is infringed on the rights of the law abiding citizen. This is just a feel good law that a politician wants to pass to make it look like he is doing something to stop crime. It won’t help.

There are plenty of other ways to combat crime, put more police on the streets, put people in prison when a gun is used in a crime with no plea bargaining. Hold the prosecutor accountable when he/she does not do their job.

Please do not support any more gun control we have the right amount now if not a little too much. Just enforce the laws on the books. Do not go after the law abiding.